Williamsport, Pa. — State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) made a stop at Williamsport’s Genetti Hotel after the state budget awarded the hotel $2 million for a large renovation project.
The funds were awarded to the Genetti by the ‘Marketing to Attract Tourists Program’ included in the state budget for 2023-2024.
“Thank you very much for supporting our hotel,” said Gus Genetti Jr., the owner and president of the hotel, as he shook Yaw’s hand.
The renovations will focus on the back of the hotel’s facilities, namely the pool area, parking lot, and the section of the building dedicated to motel-style rooms. The aim of the project is to give these facilities a more modern feel, as well as update some of the facilities in the main portion of the hotel.
Anthony Visco stood with the owner, Yaw, and Phillip Murray, the general manager of the hotel, and unfurled large scrolls of paper depicting the plans for the project. Visco’s company, Anthony H. Visco Jr. Architects, was tasked with designing the plans for the renovation.
Mr. Genetti took the time to recount some of the hotel’s history and significance to the senator. Before the hotel opened in 1922, the community of Williamsport helped raise $680,000 to establish what would then be called the Lycoming Hotel, he explained.
Mr. Genetti added that this upcoming renovation would be the biggest transformation that the hotel has undergone since the motel lodge and pool were built in 1968.
Speaking about the motel rooms in the back of the hotel, Mr. Visco said, “What we’re doing is trying to create some vertical elements, getting some gable ends on here to help break all that up. We’re going to be changing the modern aluminum look to a little bit more of a traditional look. And we are going to be creating some handicap accessible rooms here on the ground floor, out here at the motor lodge as well.”
“We’re trying to give it at least a more updated look.” Mr. Visco added.
Mr. Murray chimed in, “And in some of the funds, we’re going to be utilizing towards upgrading the security of the hotel … and then we’re also going to be working on the lobby area … and some of the other guest rooms.”
The grant-funded project is currently set to be finished in March of 2025. Additional projects will take place afterwards, which in addition to the $2 million project, will total in about $6 million in expenses, according to Mr. Genetti.
A “grand reopening” of the hotel will take place “in about two years” when each renovation project is completed, said Mr. Genetti.
